Control device



May 21, 1929. G. w. M KEE CONTROL DEVICE Filed July 21, 1924 jzueizzbr Patented May 21, 1929,.

one STATS GARNET W. MCKEE, E ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS.

' CONTROL DEVICE.

Application filed July 21,

This invention pertains generally to control devices and has more particular refer ence to a device for controlling or regulating the flow of a fluid.

' l/Vhile the principle of my invention may be embodied in control devices adapted for various purposes, the particular form of the invention shown herein is designed to control the flow of fluid such for instance, as air or gas to a suitable burner located, for instance, in a furnace.

One of'the primary purposes of this invention is the provision of a device which is capable of being thermostatically actuated so as to deliver fuel or air, as the case may be, to the furnace in accordance with the temperature requirements thereof, the device being designed to increase the fluid flow upon decrease of furnace temperature and to decrease the flow upon increase of furnace temperature, beyond a predetermined point.

Another object is to provide a device of the character indicated which can be regulated to time the closing'movement of the control valve to a fine degree of nicety, and which is capable of adjustment or regulation for'this purpose, from inaccessible position outside the housing as well as from theinside thereof.

A further'object of my invention is to provide a device which can be readily assembled andwhich will not come apart or be liable to get out'of order when in use.

Still another object is to provide a device which can be economically manufactured with a minimum amount of machining and delicats work, and which will be thoroughly reliable, durable, and efiicient in operation' For the purpose of facilitating an under-V standing of my invention 1 have illustrated onthe accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment thereof, from an inspection of which, when considered in connection with the following description, my invention and many of its inherent advantages should be readily understood and appreciated.

On the drawing, Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through a control device con,- structed in accordance with my invention. 7

Fig, 2 is a longitudinal central section of 1924. Serial No. 727,151.

. a thermostatically controlled outlet used with this invention. I

Referring to the drawing more in detail: Reference character 5 indicates generally a valve casing to which is connected the supply pipe 6 communicating with any suitable source of fluid supply under pressure, and a delivery pipe 7 adapted to conduct the con trolled fluid to a mixing burner or a gas and air mixing device of suitable construction. The casing is-shaped to provide a dividing wall 8 provided with a valve seat 9 preferably of the removable type. i

it housing indicated generally by 11 is secured to the casing and free communication between the inlet chamber 12-0f the casing and the housing is prevented by a diaphragm 13 interposed and'elamped between the opposed faces of the casing and housing. A diaphragm 14 disposed within the housing has its margins clamped between the peripheral flanges of the upper and lower portions of the housing, bolts 15 being preferably employed tohold the housing sections together with the diaphragm clamped between them. lhe diaphragm 1t divides the housing into a pressure chamber 16 and a chamber 17 communicating with atmosphere. through one or more ports'or openings 18 preferably formed in the cap 19. of the housing. Y

A valve stem 21 extends upwardly from the valve easing into the housing and this stem is provided with an-annular shoulder 22 upon which is seated clamping ring 23. This ring is adapted to engage the lower face of thediaphragm 13 through which the valve stem Qlcxtends, and the margins of the opening in this diaphragm are clamped between the valve stem above this diaphragm and is provided at its upper end with an enlarged head 25 adapted toafl'ord a. bearing surface of substantial area engaging the diaphragm. ltthro'ugh which the upper end of the stem 21 also projects. "The member 2 serves as a spacing Vmemberbetween the diaphragms 13 and let and maintains them in a predetermined po'sition relatively to each other. The diaphragm 14: is clamped between the head 25 of the spacing member and a disc 26 disthe ring 23- and a member 24= which surrounds I posed above the diaphragm and secured by a nut 27 threaded onto the upper end of the stem 21.

' Near its lower end, the valve stem 21 is equipped with a valve 28 adapted to seat upwardly againstthe valve seat 9. For the .purpose ofniaintaining the valve in proper alignment with respect to its seat,the

- projecting end 29 of. the stem beneath the of the member 31 within the port is provided valve 28, is slidably disposed in and guided by a guide member31 threaded into and pro jecting upwardly from a tapped bore 32- formed in the casing closure plug 33. This guide member 31 performs the additional function of limiting the opening movement of the valve and, in order that the extent of maximum opening of the valve may be subject to regulation and control, the lower end with a kerf 34 into which a screw driver or other tool may be inserted for adjustment purposes. \1 Normally, access to member 31' from outside the casing is precluded by a plug 35 threaded into the lower end of the port 32. In order to permit a restricted and regulatable flow of fluid fromthe inlet or pressure,

side of the valve casing into the pressure chamber lfi below the diaphra m 14, the valve stem 21 isprovided with a passage 36 extending longitudinally of the stem ,and

opening laterally at one end into the chamber12 of the casing and at its other. end,

through a port 37 formed in the member 24, into the pressure chamber 16. The flow of fluid through-this passage is controlled by an adjustable needle valve 38 threaded into the tappedupper end of the bore formed in the valve stem. This needle valve may be ad- V justed by a screw driver or other means before the structure is completely assembled and when it has been properly adjustedfit' is covered and protected by a cap 39 threaded onto the upper end of the stem 21-and adapted to serve also as lock-nut for the clamping nut 27.

A weight 41, resting upon the disc 28 tends to urge the diaphragm and valve downwardly ment is preferably so adjusted that the valve against the force of the pressure in thechann ber 16, and upward movement of the dia phragm islimited by an adjustable abutment head 42 carried upon the lowerend of an adjustable stem 43 which is equipped outside the housing with a hand wheel 42. This abutimavor thermostaticallycontrolled outlet. This out let may be of any preferred construction and I have therefore shown conventionally, mere- 1y for illustrative purposes, an outlet in the form of a tube 47 projecting into a furnace, a

fragmentary portion of which is indicated by 48. The orifice is adapted to close as the.

temperature within the furnace rises, and to correspondingly open as the furnace tempera ture diminishes. The flow of fluid from the pressure chamber 16 through the pipe 46 is therefore increased to permit the depression of the diaphragm 14 and the valve 28 under the influence of the weight 41 after the furnace temperature diminishes, and is decreased to cause the raising of the diaphragm and the closing, of the valve by the increased pressure in the chamber 16 as the furnace temperature is increased or dimins ished in accordance with the fall and rise respectively of the furnace temperature.

In order to provide for regulation of the opening and closing movements of the valve from an accessible position outside the hous- .ing andin addition to the adjustment provided for by the needle valve 38, I prefer to equip the housing With an adjustable discharge orifice indicated generally by reference character 49. This orifice comprises merely a longitudinally slottedtip ornipple 51, the slots of which maybe opened or closed the escape-of which into the room in which the device is located, is not objectionable, is used, the orifice may be regulated to control the closing speed of the valve 28. When, howthe regulationof the closing movements of the valve should be afi'ected by adjustment (if the needle valve 38.

' The thermostatically controlled outlet is illustrated as having a valve seat 53 which receives. the valve 54. The valve 54 is connectadapted to expand toward the valve seat as the tem, erature in the furnace increases. When t 'e temperature in the furnace decreases the valve moves away from its seat and the fluid, being usually air or gas will pass the valve and issue through the outlets 56.

vice is substantially as follows. Assuming that the furnace temperature is below normal, the thermostatically controlled delivery orifice from the tube 47 is open so that pressure 'inthe chamber 16 is low. The valve 28 is therefore disposed away from its seat under the infiuenceof the Weight 41, and

flow of fluid from the pipe 7 is permitted.

After the temperature in the furnaeein creases, the outlet orifice will be decreasedso by adjusting'an apertured cap 52, threaded 7 onto the nipple. When a fluid, such as air,

. ice

ever, the device is employed 'to control the how of gas or other noxious fluid, the adjustable orifice should be completely closed and ice The operation of my improved control de- 7 110 ed to an expansible diaphragm 55 which is 4 thereby lift-ing the valve 28 toward its seat to.

restrict the flow of fluid through the pipe 7.

It will be evident from the foregoing that the fluid flow is automatically controlled by my invention so that the fluid will be delivered in accordance with the requirements of the furnace as evidenced by the fluctuation of temperature therein and that the speed at which the valve will be closed can be controlled by adjusting the needle valve 38 or regulatingthc adjustable discharge orifice 49. It should furthermore be apparent that when the device is assembled as described the working parts are all securely locked together in proper relative relation so that they cannot accidentally become displaced. The device is therefore durable and reliable in operation and can be manufactured and assembled economically. j

I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention and it should be manifest that the construction and arrangement of the various parts are capable of considerable modification and variation without. departing from the essence of my invention as defined in the following claims.

I claim: a

1. In a control device thecombination of a' valve casing provided with a valve, a diaphragm housing provided with two compartments separated by a pressure actuated diaphragm, a sealing diaphragm between said casing and said housing, a stem extending through said sealing diaphragm connecting said valve with said pressure actuated diaphragm, adjustable means for admitting a fluid from said. casing through said stem into one of said compartments, and tempera ture controlled means for discharging a fluid from the last said compartment.

2. In a control device the combination of a valve casing provided with a valve, a diaphragm housing provided with two compartments separated by a pressure actuated diaphragm, a sealing diaphragm between said casing and said housing, 'a stem extending through said sealing diaphragm connecting said valve with said pressure actuated diaphragm, adjustable means for admitting a fluid from said casing through said stem into one of said compartments, and manually adjustable means for discharging a fluid from the last said housin 3. In a control device the combination of a valve casing provided with a valve, a diaphragm housing provided with two compartments separated by a pressure actuated diaphragm, a sealing diaphragm between said casing and said housing, a stem extending through said scaling diaphragm connecting 7 said valve with said pressure actuated diaphragm, adjustable means for admitting a fluid from said casing through said stem into one of said compartments, temperature controlled means' for discharging a fluid from the last said compartment and manually adjustable means for discharging a fluid from the last said compartment.

4:. In a control device the combination of a valve casing, a valve within said casing, a diaphragm housing having two compartments separated by a pressure actuated diaphragm, a sealing diaphragm between said housing and said casing, a stem extending through said sealing diaphragm connecting said valve and said pressure actuated dia phragm, a passage through said stem establishing communication between said casing and one of said compartments, means for regulating the effective area of said passage, 90 temperature controlled means for discharging a fluid from the last said compartment and manually adjustable means for discharging a fluid from the last said compartment, a shoulder on said stem beneath said sealing diaphragm, a spacing member surrounding the stem between the diaphragms, and a cap disposed over the upper end of said stem for covering said means and for clamping said diaphragms in a fixed relation to said stem..

5. In a control device the combination of a housing, a valve casing, a sealing diaphragm interposed between the housing and easing, a

- stem extending through said diaphragm into sald housing and casing, a pressure diaphragm in the housing, a shoulder carried by said stem beneath the sealing diaphragm, a spacing member surrounding the stem between the dia-phragms, a clamping nut threaded onto the upper end of the stem to fixedly secure said diaphragms to the stem,

a passage through said stem establishing communication between the casing and the housing, a needle valve threaded into the upper end of said stem for controlling the effective area of said passage, and a cap disposed over the upper end of said stem for covering said needle valve and locking said clamping nut.

I 6. In a control device the combination of a valve casing, a valve within said casing, a

diaphragm housing having a pressure actu ated diaphragm and upper and lower compartments separated thereby, theupper compartment being open to the atmosphere, :1 re- 5 movable weight in said upper compartment resting on the top of said diaphragm, adj ustable means above said diaphragm for limit ing the upward movement of said diaphragm, a sealing diaphragm between the housmg and 4- I ine -m7- the casing, a. stem extending through said ated diaphragm for regulating the efiective sealing diaphragm and conneeted with the area. of said assage, temperature controlled yaive-and the pressure actuated diaphragm, means for discharging the fluid frem sand 10 a passage through said stem establishing lower compartment and manually ad ustable 5 communication between the valve casing and means for discharging a fluid from said lower said lower compartment, means extending compartment. m into said stem from above the pressure aetu- GARNET W. MCKEE; 

